KPK confident judges will reject pre-trial motion by Yaqut Cholil in Hajj quota corruption case
The Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is optimistic that the South Jakarta District Court judges will reject the pre-trial motion filed by former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ) regarding his designation as a suspect in an alleged corruption case involving hajj quotas.
KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo conveyed this optimism to the media in Jakarta on Monday (9 March). “We are confident that in its ruling, the judges will reject the motion from the petitioner and declare the designation of YCQ as a suspect in this case valid,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Monday (9 March).
According to Budi, the anti-corruption agency is also confident that the judges will accept all arguments presented by the KPK through its Legal Bureau. He assessed that the investigation process, including the designation of suspects, has complied with applicable legal provisions and is supported by sufficient evidence.
The ruling on the pre-trial motion filed by Yaqut is scheduled to be announced on 11 March 2026 at the South Jakarta District Court.
The case began when the KPK on 9 August 2025 announced the launch of investigations into alleged corruption in the determination of quotas and administration of hajj worship at the Ministry of Religious Affairs for the 2023-2024 period. Two days later, on 11 August 2025, the KPK announced an initial estimate of state losses exceeding Rp1 trillion. At that stage, three individuals were also banned from travelling abroad for six months.
The three parties subject to travel restrictions were Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, his staff Ishfah Abidal Aziz (known as Gus Alex), and Fuad Hasan Masyhur, the owner of the hajj travel agency Maktour.
The case progressed on 9 January 2026 when the KPK designated two of the three individuals as suspects: Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ) and Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA).
Shortly after this designation, Yaqut filed a pre-trial lawsuit at the South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026. The motion was registered under case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL.
On 19 February 2026, the KPK announced the extension of travel restrictions abroad only for Yaqut and Gus Alex. Meanwhile, Fuad Hasan Masyhur was no longer included in the list of extended travel restrictions.
Subsequently, on 27 February 2026, the KPK announced it had received audit results from the State Audit Board (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia regarding state financial losses in the hajj quota case. The audit results were announced on 4 March 2026. In the report, state losses resulting from the alleged corruption in hajj quota determination and administration were estimated to reach Rp622 billion.
The pre-trial ruling to be announced on 11 March 2026 is one of the important stages in the legal proceedings of the alleged hajj quota corruption case being handled by the KPK.